8.02 Refereeing at the World Cup 03 EURO 2004 kick-off 06 Monaco events 10 Youth award for Spain 14 no 05 – august 2002 COVER IN THIS ISSUE UEFA Super Cup in Monaco 10 Spain remain a force to be The World Cup through the eyes UEFA Champions League kick-off 11 reckoned with in the European of the referees 03 youth sector, as they have just New Chairman for the Appeals Body 13 Fixture list for the EURO 2004 proved by winning the European Spain champions of the Under-19s 14 Under-19 Championship in Norway. qualifying competition 06 PHOTO: SCANPIX EURO 2004 qualifiers get under way 08 News from member associations 18 taking editorialthe right decision Since its launch, in 1998, the annual gathering in Monaco in August has become an increasingly important event. As the new UEFA club competition season gets under way, it offers the UEFA Super Cup match, a gala evening, draws and numerous working meetings. It is also an opportunity for discussions and exchange of views in a more relaxed and informal atmosphere than the normal pressure of compe- tition allows. This year, the Monaco programme includes an additional event, the first plenary meeting of the European Club Forum which has just been set up by UEFA to forge more fruitful relations with the clubs taking part in our competitions. This meeting will be taking place six weeks after the UEFA Execu- tive Committee decided to change the UEFA Champions League format from 2003/04 by abolishing the second group stage and replacing it with direct knock-out rounds. Some may protest that UEFA should have waited until the European Club Forum met in Monaco before taking a decision regarding its most prestigious club competition. However, the television market and the sales process means that negotiations needed to be started if the new contracts are to be signed in time. Besides, UEFA has been widely consulting all the parties concerned, including the clubs, for some time and we recognised that there was a variety of views. We therefore knew that our decision would not meet with unani- mous approval, but we were sure of the wisdom of it. Unquestionable from a sporting point of view, it is also the right one on the economic front, at a time when markets are under pressure and there is a need to think about the long-term well-being of the competition. The European Club Forum is a clear illustration of UEFA’s readiness to listen to the clubs. But it is also important to provide leadership when The road to action is needed. As guardian of the overall interests of European football, the final will be UEFA hopes that the clubs will understand that the general interests and longer shorter for Ryan Giggs term strategy have to come before short-term concerns when important (Manchester United FC) and decisions are being made. other players taking part in the UEFA Gerhard Aigner Champions League. Chief Executive PHOTO NEWS/VINCENTPHOTO KALUT we care about football 02 uefadirect 8.02 a Worldreferee’s Cup point 2002of view The World Cup referees and their assistants in Seoul. AFP A TOTAL OF 36 REFEREES AND 36 ASSISTANT REFEREES WERE CALLED UPON TO 31 May saw the opening match OFFICIATE FOR THE 64 MATCHES OF THE 2002 WORLD CUP IN KOREA AND JAPAN. between France and Senegal in Seoul, finishing on a sensational score of 0-1. On 23 May 2002, the active As I said, two countries, Ali Bujsaim of the United Arab Emirates, referees and members of the FIFA two locations. Eighteen referees and officiating in his third World Cup and Referees' Commission gathered at as many assistant referees remained one of the most experienced referees, the Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul. in Seoul, and the did an excellent job. Korea and Japan: two countries, and rest, including me, The journalists could actually, two World Cups. Because of travelled to Tokyo find no fault with these parameters, several former on 27 May. him, so they left him international referees were also on We journeyed on out of their reports. hand to coach and advise. The inten- to Kisarazu, 60 km away, where we We are used to this type of reporting. sive preparatory course held in mid- settled in to the referees' hotel. No matter. In the Japan group, the first March meant that we could now This was the point of departure, match was held in Niigata on 1 June, concentrate on the most important always one day before a given between Ireland and Cameroon (1-1). topics, such as Law 12 - “Fouls and match, for all of our trips by plane, No complaints here either. One thing Misconduct”, co-operation among train or car, as well as our point of is clear: everywhere, we had wonderful referees, assistant referees and return, the same day or one day stadiums and enthusiastic spectators. fourth officials, as well as personality. later. I have to say that this is another Fortunately the mood was entirely And as usual, Law 11 - “Offside”. example of a job well done by FIFA: peaceful, with not a single trace of a With all the necessary preparations an excellent hotel with all the train- disruption or a fight. made, video clips were discussed. ing facilities you could wish for, Then came the first “incident”, We were all motivated to give officiat- including daily video analyses that is, the first reports involving ing our all. The rest lay in the stars. (the videos were transmitted all night referees or their assistants. Negative, One thing is for sure: the training from Seoul via the Internet) and the of course. In the match between Brazil programme led by Dr Werner Helsen practical training facilities. I cannot and Turkey (2-1), a penalty kick was of Belgium showed that the physical imagine any better preparation for awarded against Turkey, although it is demands had been met. Everyone the matches and recuperation apparent from the television images was physically fit. afterwards. that the foul occurred outside the A gesture The assistant repeated referee’s 272 times. concentration must not falter. EMPICS EMPICS penalty area. An error, certainly. It is coaches have no time to sit back and not clear why the better-positioned think about foul play and protests. assistant failed to help the referee. Just as referee consideration “Scandal!” cried the papers. Because of focused on “tackles from behind” the red card, people cursed both the at the 1998 World Cup in 1998 in penalty kick and the player who com- France, “simulating action” moved mitted the foul. Even if the penalty was into centre stage at the 2002 World not justified, the situation was in fact a Cup in Korea/Japan, though the clear goal-scoring opportunity, and other main points were not forgot- thus the decision to show a red card ten. One reason for this is that the EMPICS was, in fact, in accordance with the conduct in question constituted real regulations. No matter at all. The main attempts to betray football, with the thing is for there to be a “scandal”. potential to cause severe damage I would mention in passing that out of to the reputation of the sport. Never- about 3,200 decisions taken by the theless, we came to the conclusion referees and some 2,600 by the assis- that in some cases, referees did tant referees, only ten were seriously misjudge simulation. In spite of the wrong. Admittedly, there were inexpli- video examples we provided, several Aerial duels result in contact cable errors of perception. Overall, were not able to grasp that there are which is not necessarily however, the FIFA Referees’ Committee three different types, namely a foul, a foul. was satisfied with the an attempt to deceive, or something officials’ perform- that is neither of the two. Football is ance (just take a a competitive sport, and physical look at the last four contact among players is a normal matches). The fact that lessons and permissible aspect. Thus, if a from this – and previous – World player falls (perhaps also in a spec- Cups must and will be learned for tacular manner) during a physical the 2006 World Cup in Germany is action, but no foul is committed, then an entirely separate issue. the referee usually allows play to According to FIFA statistics, continue. In terms of Decision 5 on the 64 matches in Korea/Japan Rule 12 as taken by the International saw a total of 272 yellow cards FA Board, simulation is considered and 17 red cards, or an average to have taken place only when the of 4.25 and 0.27 per match, player’s intention was to carry out a respectively. At the 1994 deceptive manoeuvre, rather than World Cup in the United a physical move. States, the averages were 4.52 Unfortunately, it was not and 0.34, and in 1998 in France, possible to entirely eliminate all 4.03 and 0.34 cards per instances of “holding and pulling”, match. I would also say that because the rules were not always on the whole, the matches applied strictly enough. In several were not unfair. One of the matches, the defenders almost reasons is that for a undressed the forwards in the refreshing change, attack- penalty area. Of course, obvious of- ing football was played. fences were punished by penalty Some of the athletic prowess kick, much to the regret of one displayed was absolutely coach, who spoke of “normal one-on- RICHIARDI fantastic. And as we one competition conduct.” Some all know, when real people do have some wild ideas, but football is played, overall, coach conduct was regarded players and as positive.